How thin is the blade of a samurai sword?

[bomekked]

I heard they are as thin as a razor blade

[moonacre]

If that were true then the blade would flap around like a metal tape measure. Sharp as a razor blade - yes. The strength, relative thinness and sharpness are all part of the manufacturing process which uses precisely controlled heat and folding of the metal.

You seem to have a bit of a fascination with weaponry.

[Blender]

Moonacre's correct they are quite stiff but the method of making the traditional swords was by layering hard steel and soft iron by heating, beating together and folding the beaten metal many many times. This produced the traditional form of the sword and if you look at one you see a multitude of wavy lines running down the length of it, the more there are the better the sword, these are made by the interleaving of soft iron and hard steel. All old swords are handed down and all have their own names